The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Confidence high in home camp
Hibs midfielder Vykintas Slivka has confirmed there is confidence running through the Lithuanian camp ahead of the match against Scotland, writes Ian
Roache.
Slivka set up the Baltic state’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Hampden last October – a result that could yet come back to haunt Gordon Strachan’s side.
While he is not dismissing his adoptive country’s chances in the return game, the Easter Road player didn’t seem too concerned.
He said: “Yeah, we are pretty confident that we can win. “We prepare well for every game. “Lithuania are in a transition and we are in the process of developing our national team.
“We are a young team with a new manager.
“Even if we don’t make the World Cup we are looking forward to building a team for the next campaign.
“If we want to get to the World Cup then Lithuania has to win every game and that will be quite tough. But we know what to expect from Scotland.
“I set up the equalising goal in Glasgow and I hope to play a big part in this game.”
As for the artificial surface in the LFF Stadium in Vilnius, Slivka added: “It is not an issue for us.
“Maybe for Scotland it won’t be so easy for them.
“I wouldn’t say it is a big advantage for Lithuania, maybe a slight one but nothing much.”